A social housing provider has called on Nama to make Dublin development land available to it, rather than finished or partly completed units in other parts of the country.

Ned Brennan, chief executive of housing agency Respond, said that access to land in the Dublin and east coast region rather than finished housing units elsewhere would allow organisations like his to better address the acute shortage of social housing in these parts of the country.

"The most pressing demand for social housing is in Dublin and its surrounds, as well as Cork and Galway city," said Brennan.

In Dublin, the problem has increased from eight families becoming homeless per month in 2012 to over 80 per month in 2015.

"Nama controls large amounts of land in this region," said Brennan.

"Our preference is obviously for completed units in these high-demand areas. But since this is not available, access to land would also be of great assistance."

Brennan said his organisation had a good relationship with Nama and had acquired housing units from it in the past.

Nama has made housing units available for social housing purposes through a variety of mechanisms. In total, 6,600 units in its portfolio were identified; authorities accepted 2,500 of these and 2,000 have already been delivered at a cost to Nama of around €250m.

A spokesperson for Nama said: "It is open to any party who wishes to express interest in an undeveloped land site to make a commercial proposal to the debtor or receiver who controls that land.

"Nama is statutorily obliged to pursue commercial proposals that maximise the return to the Irish taxpayer.

"Local authorities and other public bodies have substantial land holdings within their portfolios that could be utilised for the provision of social housing."